2001 Chateau Saint Cosme Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Chateau de Saint Cosme is just north of the village of Gigondas. It is on the site of an ancient Gallo-Roman villa. The 37-acre property has been owned by Barruol family for 14 generations and is today run by Louis Barruol. In 1997 Barruol also started a negociant business and in 2007 the estate built a new cellar. Chateau de Saint Cosme produces both southern and northern Rhone wines, including Gigondas, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes-du-Rhone, Cote-Rotie, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Condrieu. It also produces the budget-priced label Little James. The estate’s signature wines earn high ratings from critics. Wine Advocate rated the 2010 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides at 96-100 pts and called it “a candidate for perfection…this deep, striking, exhilarating wine is one of the greatest Gigondas I have ever tasted.”

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the appellation, is a large area of nearly 8,000 vineyard acres centered around the picturesque town of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Located in southeastern France just north of the Avignon hills, the name of the appellation means “new castle of the pope” and it is a reference to the 14th century, when the Popes of Avignon built summer homes in the Southern Rhone Valley. Today the appellation is one of the most renowned in France and its terroir is known for layers of small pebbles, called “galets.” The stones in the soil are thought to help store heat and keep the soil warm, which helps ripen the grapes. The stones also help keep the soil from drying out in hot summer months. In 1923 Châteauneuf-du-Pape was a leader in establishing the idea that AOC wines in France should be made only with specified grapes, and the appellation allowed 13 grape varieties to be used. Since then the rules have been slightly modified to include several more allowable grapes. Red and white wines are produced, though in practice about 97% of all Châteauneuf –du-Papes are reds made with a blend of Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Counoise, Mourvedre, Muscardine, Syrah and Vaccarese. The red wines of this appellation are prized for being big, rich, spicy and full-bodied. White wines of the appellation are made with Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Picpoul and Picardin. Whites are floral, fruity and relatively full-bodied.